have liked to see.
But, in their statement of 16 February, OMELCO themselves
welcomed the removal of a major uncertainty for the
territory's future and stressed the importance of making
a success of the 1991 elections. We have deliberately
not fixed a figure for 1995. We have said that it will
not be below 20. We hope that it will be more and that opinion and policy in China will continue to evolve in
that direction.
We also touched upon Hong Kong's position as an
international banking and commercial centre. This it
indeed is and it is embarking on huge and ambitious
projects to ensure that it is able to maintain and
develop its leading position. The new port and airport
development strategy, together with large new tracts of
land in the central business district will ensure that it
has the means to meet the challenges of the 21st
century. It is however, vital that Hong Kong does
retain its international aspects and its capitalist
dynanism. The Chinese Government is fully aware of this
need and it is part of the "one country two systems'
concept. But the more business people in Hong Kong can
make this view, the more it will be reinforced.
"
Douglas Hurd